Swap daydreams......

[papabearxl]

So I've got my Salon heading towards being on the road again shortly (fingers crossed), and have been thinking about the Cruiser. Do I want to go through what I have the last 4 years with building the 330? No. Do I want to keep the 3.8? No. Would I like to put a GN drivetrain in? Yes, but alas, not for the money reasons. Do I wanna do a simple SBC swap? Not really. It has to be different.....but not so different it is going to take me 4 or 5 years to get the car going again.


Been thinking about a Vortec 4800, 5300, or 6000 (which is what is in my Sierra). Prices for used 4800 and 5300 are really cheap...but you have to get the harness, transmission problems (?) as far as the 4L60E?, or convert it over to carb (with intake). Rather keep the FI, myself, but what's a fellow to do?

I guess I could always buy a longblocked OLDS (350, 403) and go from there. Be a lot cheaper than how I went on my 330. I have about $6000 in the motor right now, and is not even together, yet.
I wouldn't change the motor I am building for the Salon, just would have went about it far differently, after having the experiences I have.

 

[1983mailbuwagon]

they are seeing 350-400 horse on a stock 5.3 with a LSX cam, The intake to carb the motors are 699.00, As far as Trans goes, A 700R4 should bolt up I believe. They also make a stand alone computer for the swaps where the computer sits below the intake. I am doing the swap in a 89 Camaro RS convertible right now. But i am going Carb.

 

[papabearxl]

Good info. Thanks.

 

[Blake442]

I'd drop a stock-ish 455 Olds in it with a built up 200-4R and a 3.08 rear.
That way, you'll be able to re-use your current carrier (unless you want to add a posi), since it's probably in the 2.xx's.
On the street, the 7.5 will be fine.

Keep in mind, the "stock" 455 will put out about 390 horses and 510 ft. lbs.
And those are the notoriously under-rated stock figures...

I only spent a little more than $3K on my 455.
Get a decent deal on a complete core, and I bet you could build one for about the same price or even less.

 

[dogsht]

I like the idea of an LS swap. That said it is more work & money. You need to add it up and see about the work and time to see if its more than you want to bite off for this round. www.montecarloss.com has a sticky on doing this swap that is helpful. Its much easier than it used to be as all the parts are already available even headers.

Blakes idea is good and it even goes with your Olds theme. One big & one small kind of rounds it out. When I did my big block Caddy build I spent 3,512 to make it all fresh apples to apples parts to the 502 crate chevy 502 for half the money only with my labor and no warrenty. Hey Blake tall gears makes it harder on the carrier not easier. Regular driving the 7.5 should hold up longer behind big block torque with say 3.73s than 2.29s as it can get the car up to speed with less stress.

 

[papabearxl]

I love the idea of an LSswap. Been looking around on LS1TECH.com for a little bit. But I do agree wholeheartedly with Blake about the 455............


Was doing a search yesterday on remanufactured longblocks and found 455's under $2000 with warranties....along with 350 and 403's......for a couple hundred less than the 455 , of course....



Ah daydreams..........

Hopefully will be getting the Salon trailered to my bud's garage in the next week where the 333 and 200-4R wuill be put in, along with my new fuel system. Ended up having to drop the mechanical fuel pump with the double-roller chain....the pump arm is not clearing the chain, so I guess I'll have to spring for an electric pump. More money..........I don't have.

 

[dogsht]

Not to hijack the thread but I assume that would be for a street car. I used a GN (or 4.3 tbi Monte) tank on my carberated 87 442 with a plug N play in tank pump setup from www.racetronix.com. Just look under Buick Grand National. I used a Malory 4309 return style fuel pressure regulator www.jegs.com and a cheap roll of fuel line for the supply with the factory line as a return. I picked up an inexpensive fuel filter from the local autoparts for an early 90s tbi Camaro. The whole setup is cheap and easy compared to a gravity fed out of tank setup with sump or cell that most racers put between the tank & bumper. Plus its safe (will pass safety inspections) quiet and should live a long life like a new car.

Benefits of building a gbody as opposed to an older car where they don't have baffled tanks with on the shelf fuel pump hangers for in tank setups. If you can find a used GN/tbi Monte tank nearby you can also get a new tank & hanger off ebay just do a search for GN fuel tank. BTW there are some pics in my photo album but not fuel system specific.

 

[kyhunter89]

im going to agree that a taller rear gear makes a stronger unit. It's not about how the car moves easier. its more strength in the actual gears with the amount of grooves

 

[papabearxl]

I'd drop a stock-ish 455 Olds in it with a built up 200-4R and a 3.08 rear.
That way, you'll be able to re-use your current carrier (unless you want to add a posi), since it's probably in the 2.xx's.
On the street, the 7.5 will be fine.

Keep in mind, the "stock" 455 will put out about 390 horses and 510 ft. lbs.
And those are the notoriously under-rated stock figures...

I only spent a little more than $3K on my 455.
Get a decent deal on a complete core, and I bet you could build one for about the same price or even less.

Well, now I bought a decent, cheap core (71 455, "G" heads).....now to start seeing what the internals look like, and see where we go from there.... 8)